Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-11-30

upO q the increased yield as cOmpen-
sntlOn for the extra labor required,
which, however, is not great. We
commend the experiments, and trust
that during the next season our read
ers will experiment in this direction,
as from our own observations, and
the tests made by others, we believe
satisfactory and valuable informa-
ton may be acquired.
Lime in Agriculture.
Lime is q substance that can bo ap-
piled at any season of the year, but
the fall is more suitable, as 1t will
gradually find it's way downward. 1t
makes heavy soils lighter ana light
soils heavier, but the process Is g.
chemical one and somewhat slow. 1t
is as much through the substances in
the soil attacking the lime as by the
action of the lime itself that changes
occur. All soils contain lime, princl-
pally in the form of g. carbonate.
But, though lime may abound in soils
as limestone, chalk, she'll, or other
such well known forms, yet, the car
Donates being insoluble, the plants
will not be benefited as quickly as by
an application of lime. When lime
stone carbonate of lime) is burned,
the carbonic acid gas is driven off,
and lime (which is an oxide) remains.
If Stacked with moisture, it will be-
come hydrate of lime. The water
used by the lime in becoming q hy-
drate is then q component part OF the
whole in q crystalline form, and
though q large proportion Of water
may have apparently been used, yet
the lime will only unite with g. suf-
fcient amount TO form the hydrate,
which, having united with the water,
is in dry condition. When the lime,
or hydrate of lime, is applied to the
soil it seeks carbonic acid from the
air and the soil, endeavoring to re-
turn again to the form ofcarbonate OF
lime. 1t is in the attempt of the lime
TO resume the form of carbonate
that the soil is changed in it's compo-
sition, as the lime compels other ele-
ments to disintegrate and break their
combinations in order to assist it
to unite with the acids, during
which not only the carbonate of lime
results, but sulphates, phosphates,
and other salts. If, therefore, lime De
applied to g. limestone soil it will
prove beneficial, because it possesses
the power of compelling chemical de-
composition in order TO become a
carbonate, while the limestone exist
ing in the soil, no matter how fine it
may be, being already united with an
acid 1.-THE carbonic,) is inert and pow
erless. Hence, in applying lime to the
soil not only is lime provided, but
with it's assistance the inert matter
of the soil is converted into plant
food. Old sod land that has been
turned under provides excellent ma
terial for the action of the lime, a., d
as it is heavy and easily carried down
by the rains every portion of the soil
is benefited. The best mode OF apply
ing lime is to broadcast it over the
surface, and it's effects will be more
marked if applied in small quantities
(about ten bushels per acre. at fre-
quent intervals than if applied in
large quantity at once.
That Small Farm Experiment.
A great deal of controversy has
taken place as to the prospects Of the
occupiers Of land on the Mamborne
estate, belonging to the British Small
Farms and Laborers' Land Com
pany. No more unfavorable time for
the starting of the undertaking could
have been selected, as far as prices of
farm produce are concerned, and the
seasons have also been unfavorable,
especially the past dry summer. Yet
most OF the tenants appear to believe
that they could pay their way if the
rents were not too high. According
to the details given by the representa-
tive of the Reading Observer, who
spent two days in visiting the small
farms and alottments and obtaining
information from the tenants, the
rent ranges from FL to FL 5s. without
q dwelling, and from FL rs. to Ell 9s.
Sd. with a house. Judging either
from the fact that the estate was q
deserted one in a badly neglected con-
dition when it became the property
OF the company, or from the crops
grown on it, these rents appear very
nigh for the times. A great deal of
harm, moreover, appears to have
been done by too deep steam cultiva.
tion, carried on throughout the es-
tate before it was divided; for nothing
does more TO diminish production for
several years than the turning up of a
The crops on small portions
of the estate this year appear to have
failed entirely, and on others such
yields as four to six quarters of oats,
three Or four of barley, and less than
four of wheat prove that the land is
poor, especially as several of the ten
ants have spent a good deal upon it.
The Life of Chinese Farmer.
A traveller in Central China writes:
A husbandman sows and reaps his
grain, and il it be an average crop he
has just enough to support his family
and dependents on till the next har-
vest. If it fall short he and they have
to starve or live on roots and weeds,
for supplies of food he cannot obtain
from elsewhere; if it be abundant the
surplus is rather an impediment to
him than otherwise. He has not the
means of storing or preserving it,
and the want of roads prevents him
. .